I took up fly fishing about 2 months ago and have been out for about 6 outings of a couple of hours at a time.

Each was a beautiful communion with nature.

I sat, I enjoyed my surroundings. I casted (not bad in my humble opinion).

I had a some casting tips from a local expert.

I went from wild Welsh stillwaters to my local stocked fishery.

I took local advice and varied flies accordingly.

I varied my leader, droppers, retrieve and mindset.

I have still not caught a single fish.

I am starting to contemplate just going to sit by the water and not bothering with the tackle.

Words of support welcome!

This is a bad time to be fishing during the day.Early morning,or even better into the dark.is a time when the fish feed just now.

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

Cant remember how many outings it took me to catch my first trout,but you will do so don't worry about it

Neil

It’s always useful to fish somewhere that you can see the fish and how they are reacting to your fly. When ever I fish a wild welsh llyn and not a lot is happening I begin to fall into the mindset of nothing in the blood place but once you get to see a few fish you realise how many are following you in and just coming short it gives you a bit of Hope and something to work with

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Allan
Only dead fish go with the flow.

It took me something between 2-3 months myself to catch my first fish. I was doing something similar - going once every couple of weeks for a couple of hours at a time.
Firstly check you're using decent thin flourcarbon for your leader and also that it's long enough (as the locals what's commonly used where you fish)
Secondly, what flies are you using? Perhaps some of the locals can help suggest better things to try on here?
Thirdly, mix it up a bit - try varying the retreive style, and also the depth both by weight of fly but also maybe chuck on a short sinking poly leader (ask local tackle shop for one and they'll show you)

And maybe lastly, I'd stay for a little longer than a couple of hours, and as someone else has suggested, predatory fish such as trout feed mostly at dawn and dusk, so avoid the middle of the day for best results.

Keep plugging away and it'll come good.

Bri

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www.goldengrovecottages.com

Catching fish is something of habit, like the England Cricket/Football/Rugby etc etc team keep telling us about winning, or in their case losing.

Just keep plugging away and keep talking to anybody on the bank who doesn't throw stones at you - most fisherman are incredibly generous with their time and advice for newbies.

Finally, why not tell us where your local stillwater is. There will probably be several people on this forum who fish it and would be willing to pass on some advice.

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"Take not out your 'ounds on a werry windy day" Surtees.

Sheps, try and arrange to go with someone with local knowledge and experience. It's probable that you have something wrong in your set up or approach and an independent viewer will spot it and put you right. Hang in here, you are not the first to suffer

When i first started it took me a whole year to catch my first fish. I was only 10 at the time and fishing wimbleball lake at 374 acres so that didn't help. You have to learn watercraft and fishing techniques and that comes with time and experience. Go with a local and ask, but best of all watch, watch others and then ask sensible questions and most Will then point you in the right direction. Then when you do catch it Will feel more of an achievement.
Then after you do start catching and learning you Will look back and see what you were doing wrong and it Will make you a better fisherman

best wishes sarg

Sheps

I already belong to such a support group and you are welcome to join me mate. It's called the "three pints of black stuff and always next time club."

Seriously though, this forum is a good place to get support and help - stick with it.

Reg Wyatt

Stick with it. It's a steep learning curve but you'll get there in the end and once you've got a few basic methods sorted you'll grow in confidence and catch more fish.

All that being said even the most proficient of us still have blank days. That's why it's called fishing and not catching.